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Page 400
"I thought that plot stank to heaven. It was so foolish, so crude, that it had to be a jest"
"A jest? That was an expensive jest! Of course those men were acting for me. In whose pay did you think they were? The king's?"
"Why?" Ian pleaded. "Why did you put such a shame on me?"
"Oh highty-tighty, high and mighty," Alinor spat, "becausefool that I amI would rather stand here and listen to you babble like an idiot than mourn over your dead body. Is that a fair answer?"
"Do you not think me able to fight my own battles?" Ian roared, stung to rage again.
"Who interfered with your battles?" Alinor shrieked in reply. "Who lifted a sword, even once, to aid you? Did someone distract Arundel? Did someone aim a blow at Albini during your duel? Did anyone draw away one of the knights when you alone fought two? I ordered one thing and one thing alonethat you were not to be stabbed in the back by men of your own party. Chew that cud, you ox, before you grunt of shame and dishonor."
"I will not be made a party"
"To what were you made a party?" Alinor cut him off furiously. "Name a dishonorable act that one of those men performed, and I will see that he is called before you and punished as you see fit. Did one launch a single blow at any man in his own party? Say FitzWalter and de Quincy were honest men, riding to your aid because they saw you overmatched. Would the action of those six knights have been wrong? Oh, you braying ass, I have dealt with men like you all my life. I know the meat of honor."
"You cut the meat very fine, but your slices stink nonetheless."
Alinor shrugged indifferently. "So honor is a bloated corpse here. I am not the one who killed it, and you

 
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